Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) has announced the opening of a newly-enhanced space in its emergency department designed to better support patients experiencing mental health crises while improving privacy, safety, and care delivery for all patients.
HHHS said the new mental health space provides patients in crisis with a safer, more private, and less stimulating environment.
Previously, patients requiring mental health support were often cared for in a standard examination room that lacked both privacy and an environment optimized for those experiencing crisis.
“This new space reflects our commitment to delivering compassionate, patient-centred care while ensuring every individual receives support in an environment designed to meet their needs,” said chief nursing executive, Victoria Miscio.
“These enhancements improve not only the patient experience, but also how our teams work together to provide safe, highquality care.”
The project also introduces dedicated workspace for police partners, supporting stronger collaboration and providing improved visibility and documentation space when caring for patients requiring additional support.
Further improvements include relocating patient chairs from hallway spaces into a repurposed area, creating increased privacy and confidentiality during physician assessments and patient interactions.
HHHS said the project also expands stretcher capacity and standardizes patient care spaces, ensuring all stretcher areas now have consistent access to essential equipment including monitoring capabilities, suction, and oxygen.
Previously, care teams were required to match patients to specific spaces based on equipment availability.
The improvements were made possible entirely through donor support.
“We are deeply grateful to our donors whose generosity continues to transform health-care close to home,” said president and CAO Jack Hutchison.
Miscio was only recently appointed as the permanent vice president of patient care services and chief nursing executive.
Meanwhile, Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation has announced that Kathryn Quick has been appointed interim executive director of the foundation as of June 8. She was donor relations manager from 2023-25. A search for the next permanent executive director is underway.
